zi6 cyun2自忖

Jyutpingzi6 cyun2

Yalejih chyún

動詞

Definition

To ponder; to think to oneself; to contemplate.

writtendaily actionscommunication

How it's used

This term is significantly more formal and literary than the common spoken verb 諗. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation and is more likely to appear in written texts, formal speech, or when someone is trying to sound slightly more sophisticated or reflective. Using it in a very casual setting might make you sound like you are quoting a historical drama.

Examples

keoi5佢zi6自cyun2忖le1呢gin2件si6事m4唔hai6係gam3咁gaan2簡daan1單。

He pondered that this matter was not so simple.

nei5你zi6自cyun2忖jat1一haa5下，hai6係mai6咪zan1真hai6係jiu3要gam3咁zou6做？

Think it over for a moment, do you really have to do that?

Common phrases

zi6自cyun2忖jat1一faan1番

to ponder for a while

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this in place of 諗 or 諗下, which makes the sentence sound unnaturally stiff. Stick to 諗 for everyday situations and reserve 自忖 for contexts involving deep, serious contemplation.